Pumpkin Broth Health Benefits

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We all know that pumpkins don scary faces during Halloween, but there’s nothing scary about the health benefits that they offer. The best thing you can do is to make a sumptuous broth by cooking pumpkin flesh. Pumpkin broth health benefits are simply amazing.

The mild flavor of pumpkin perfectly blends with other vegetables too. The health benefits of pumpkin broth can be enhanced with the addition of various herbs and spices.

Following are some of the health benefits of pumpkin broth.

Cardiovascular Protection

Flesh of a pumpkin is enriched with nicotinic acid and trigonelline – both these compounds aid in reducing the levels of triglycerides. Pumpkin extracts present in broth are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid, which is known to boost the cardiovascular health.

Supporting Evidence: A study report published in the July 2009 issue of “Lipids” stated during a study, the men who feasted on foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids could lower their LDL and increase their HDL. Both these measures are important for the cardiovascular protection.

In 2003, a Serbian Medical journal reported that ALA or Alpha-linolenic Acid present in the pumpkin contributed to the cardiovascular health by avoiding fibrillation of ventricles.

Diabetes Aid

The pumpkin flesh is enriched with protein-bound polysaccharide which increases the level of insulin in blood and lowers the blood sugar. The May 9, 2009 issue of a popular science journal “Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry “ reported that nicotinic acid and trignolline present in the pumpkin extracts aided in lowering sugar levels in bloodstream.

Supporting Evidence: The study confirmed that nicotinic acid and trignolline worked by boosting the insulin resistance and inhibited the onset of diabetes. The study also acknowledged that these two compounds also helped to curb the accumulation of triglycerides in the blood, which is often perceived as a lurking danger in case of the diabetics.

Cancer Protection

Can I slurp a bowl of pumpkin broth to avoid cancer? Yes, you can. You can depend on a bowl of pumpkin broth for the cancer protection.

Pumpkins are enriched with compounds called cucurbitacins, which are known to inhibit inflammation of cancer cells.

Supporting Evidence: Scientists at Michigan State University have studied about the effect of cucurbitacin on various cancer cell lines. During their research these scientists found that cucurbitacin inhibited the metastasis of cancerous cells and tumors that lead to lung, breast, and colon cancer. The study suggested that pumpkin extracts can serve as a biggest defensive aid against colon cancer and prostate cancer ( in men). The compounds in pumpkin actually work by blocking the 5- alpha reductase (a type of enzyme) , which alters the testosterone and leads to prostate cancer.

Digestive Health

Pumpkin is rich source of fiber. Therefore, the pumpkin broth is enriched with fibers, which promotes the digestive health by regularizing the motions and avoids constipation.

Weight Loss

This is perhaps one of the best known health benefits of pumpkin broth. The pumpkin broth is low in glycemic index, which helps to trigger the feeling of fullness with in an eater.

You can enjoy various other health benefits of pumpkin broth by integrating it into your diet.